Q200. Which Buddhist text contains stories concerning the previous births of Gautama Buddha?
[RRB NTPC – 2026]
A. Jataka Tales
B. Sutta Pitaka
C. Dhammapada
D. Vinaya Pitaka
Answer: A. Jataka Tales
Explanation: The Jatakas narrate the Buddha’s previous births in human and animal forms. They illustrate virtues such as generosity, compassion, sacrifice and wisdom through moral stories.
Q199. Which part of the Buddhist canon principally records the discourses and teachings attributed to the Buddha?
[RRB NTPC – 2026]
A. Vinaya Pitaka
B. Sutta Pitaka
C. Abhidhamma Pitaka
D. Milinda Panha
Answer: B. Sutta Pitaka
Explanation: The Sutta Pitaka contains sermons, dialogues and teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha and his leading disciples. It forms one of the three divisions of the Tripitaka.
Q198. Rules governing the conduct and discipline of Buddhist monks and nuns are contained in which Pitaka?
[RRB NTPC – 2026]
A. Anguttara Nikaya
B. Abhidhamma Pitaka
C. Sutta Pitaka
D. Vinaya Pitaka
Answer: D. Vinaya Pitaka
Explanation: The Vinaya Pitaka contains disciplinary rules governing the Buddhist Sangha. Tradition associates its recital at the First Buddhist Council with the Buddha’s disciple Upali.
Q197. According to early Buddhist literature, approximately how many villages were said to exist in Magadha during Bimbisara’s reign?
[RRB NTPC – 2026]
A. 20,000
B. 40,000
C. 80,000
D. 1,00,000
Answer: C. 80,000
Explanation: Early Buddhist texts describe Bimbisara’s Magadha as containing about 80,000 villages, indicating the kingdom’s extensive agrarian base and growing political importance in the sixth century BCE.
Q196. The rise of Buddhism and Jainism in the sixth century BCE was partly a reaction against which feature of contemporary religious life?
[SSC GD – 2026]
A. Maritime trade
B. Elaborate Vedic rituals
C. Urban administration
D. Coinage
Answer: B. Elaborate Vedic rituals
Explanation: Buddhism and Jainism challenged costly sacrificial rituals, Brahmanical ritual authority and social inequalities. Both emphasised ethical conduct and personal spiritual effort rather than elaborate sacrifices.
Q195. What was a principal objective of Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma?
[SSC GD – 2026]
A. Compulsory conversion to Buddhism
B. Military expansion
C. Ethical conduct and social harmony
D. Abolition of agriculture
Answer: C. Ethical conduct and social harmony
Explanation: Ashoka’s Dhamma promoted compassion, respect for elders, tolerance among sects, humane treatment and social harmony. It was an ethical policy rather than compulsory Buddhist conversion.
Q194. The sculptured gateways of the Great Stupa at Sanchi prominently depict stories from which literature?
[SSC MTS – 2026]
A. Vedas
B. Ramayana
C. Jain Agamas
D. Jataka tales
Answer: D. Jataka tales
Explanation: Sanchi’s toranas contain extensive narrative reliefs from the Jatakas, describing earlier lives of the Buddha while conveying Buddhist ideals through symbolic and narrative art.
Q193. Which Buddhist pilgrimage site in Uttar Pradesh marks Gautama Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Kushinagar
B. Sarnath
C. Bodh Gaya
D. Rajgir
Answer: A. Kushinagar
Explanation: Kushinagar, ancient Kushinara, is traditionally regarded as the place where Buddha died and entered Mahaparinirvana. It is one of Buddhism’s four principal pilgrimage sites.
Q192. The Mahaparinirvana Temple at Kushinagar is situated in which Indian state?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Bihar
B. Madhya Pradesh
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. Odisha
Answer: C. Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Kushinagar is located in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Its Mahaparinirvana Temple houses the famous reclining Buddha image commemorating the Buddha’s final passing away.
Q191. Buddha images of the ancient Mathura school were characteristically carved from which stone?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Black basalt
B. Red sandstone
C. White marble
D. Grey schist
Answer: B. Red sandstone
Explanation: The Mathura school characteristically employed mottled red sandstone. Its Buddha images developed an indigenous sculptural idiom distinct from the grey-schist, Greco-Roman-influenced Gandhara tradition.